Friday, 23 December 2011

There was no dearth of disasters globally this year - the planet was witness to some of the most harrowing mishaps and natural disasters, leading to seemingly unprecedented loss of life and leaving behind insurmountable damage in their wake. It seemed as though Mother Nature's fury knew no bounds.

February saw her unleash her wrath on New Zealand where a devastating earthquake shook Christchurch. (As you read this, news is coming in that Christchurch has been rattled by another quake of 5.8 magnitude.) The subsequent flooding that caused mudslides in Brazil took scores of lives. Japan had to bear the heaviest brunt with the March 2011 tsunami, though true to their spirit, they're bouncing back the best they can. Unfortunately, the extent of damage of the Fukushima nuclear plant disaster is still uncertain.

Natural disasters continued unabated all through the year, with severe cases of floods in various parts of the world - Thailand, Cambodia, Bihar, Orissa, Pakistan, Dublin, Australia to name some (click links for videos). If floods were not enough, there was the ghastly earthquake in Sikkim. Then there was Hurricane Irene, first in the annual hurricane season in the US.

Being no stranger to loss of life and damage to property, India had to grapple with uncertainty again this year with two terrorist attacks in Mumbai and Delhi, eerie in their twin what-can't-kill-them-makes-them-tough resilience. Still recovering from the Park Street fire accident of 2010, Kolkata had to encounter a second fire tragedy in recent times with the AMRI Hospital disaster.

A recent study has found out that 2011 could well be the costliest year where natural disasters are concerned. But in spite of the horrors of 2011, the earth having to witness disasters, man-made or natural, is nothing new. Here's a look at ten highly destructive ecological disasters in recent years, some of them still ongoing:

Friday, 4 November 2011

India, one of the world’s most ancient civilizations, has an abundance of cultural history in its monuments, temples and tombs, and is home to one of the seven wonders of the world - the Taj Mahal. The 12th century Jagannath Temple in Orissa is another such example.
Recently a stone weighing about a ton came crashing down from the interior complex of the temple, causing damage to the shrine and weakening its structure. This is not the first incident of its kind, as elaborated in the video below, and such negligence has compromised the integrity of the edifice.

The Jagannath temple incident.

Is India’s letting her rich cultural heritage fall to ruin through neglect and indifference?

Friday, 21 October 2011

Bangalore. The first metro in the Indian IT hub Bangalore rolls into service on October 20, 2011, a long-delayed and over-budget project to help the city's army of commuting software engineers and call centre workers. Despite its shiny corporate headquaIn this photograph taken on October 17, 2011, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation's Namma metro train does a trial run in rters, Bangalore suffers from the same acute infrastructure problems that ...

In this photograph taken on October 17, 2011, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation's Namma metro train does a trial run in Bangalore. The first metro in the Indian IT hub Bangalore rolls into service on October 20, 2011, a long-delayed and over-budget project to help the city's army of commuting software engineers and call centre workers. Despite its shiny corporate headquarters, Bangalore suffers from the same acute infrastructure problems that blight the rest of the country, with its reputation as a business-friendly high-tech centre already in peril. AFP PHOTO/ Manjunath KIRAN

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation's Namma metro train start its inagural run in Bangalore on October 20, 2011. The first metro in India's IT hub of Bangalore rolls into service, a long-delayed and over-budget project to help the city's army of commuting software engineers and call centre staff. Despite its shiny corporate headquarters, Bangalore suffers from the same acute infrastructure problems that blight the rest of the country, with the ...

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation's Namma metro train start its inagural run in Bangalore on October 20, 2011. The first metro in India's IT hub of Bangalore rolls into service, a long-delayed and over-budget project to help the city's army of commuting software engineers and call centre staff. Despite its shiny corporate headquarters, Bangalore suffers from the same acute infrastructure problems that blight the rest of the country, with the city's reputation as a business-friendly, high-tech centre already in peril. AFP PHOTO/ Dibyangshu SARKAR

In this photograph taken on October 17, 2011, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation's Namma metro train does a trial run in Bangalore. The first metro in the Indian IT hub Bangalore rolls into service on October 20, 2011, a long-delayed and over-budget project to help the city's army of commuting software engineers and call centre workers. Despite its shiny corporate headquarters, Bangalore suffers from the same acute infrastructure problems that ...

In this photograph taken on October 17, 2011, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation's Namma metro train does a trial run in Bangalore. The first metro in the Indian IT hub Bangalore rolls into service on October 20, 2011, a long-delayed and over-budget project to help the city's army of commuting software engineers and call centre workers. Despite its shiny corporate headquarters, Bangalore suffers from the same acute infrastructure problems that blight the rest of the country, with its reputation as a business-friendly high-tech centre already in peril. AFP PHOTO/ Manjunath KIRAN

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation's Namma metro train start its inagural run in Bangalore on October 20, 2011. The first metro in India's IT hub of Bangalore rolls into service, a long-delayed and over-budget project to help the city's army of commuting software engineers and call centre staff. Despite its shiny corporate headquarters, Bangalore suffers from the same acute infrastructure problems that blight the rest of the country, with the ...

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation's Namma metro train start its inagural run in Bangalore on October 20, 2011. The first metro in India's IT hub of Bangalore rolls into service, a long-delayed and over-budget project to help the city's army of commuting software engineers and call centre staff. Despite its shiny corporate headquarters, Bangalore suffers from the same acute infrastructure problems that blight the rest of the country, with the city's reputation as a business-friendly, high-tech centre already in peril. AFP PHOTO/ Dibyangshu SARKAR

Sunday, 9 October 2011

A statue of Austrian actor, former champion bodybuilder and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is pictured in front of the house he was born in, in southern Austrian village of Thal October 7. 2011. Schwarzenegger officially opened a museum dedicated to his life on Friday. REUTERS/Heinz-Peter Bader (AUSTRIA - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT PROFILE)

Austrian actor, former champion bodybuilder and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (C) points at a 'Terminator' film poster, as he chats with Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann, during a tour of his former home in Thal October 7. 2011. Schwarzenegger officially opened a museum dedicated to his life in the house he was born on Friday. REUTERS/Stringer/Andy Wenzel (AUSTRIA - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT POLITICS)

Saturday, 8 October 2011

India's tennis star Sania Mirza will be out of action for the next few weeks after under-going an arthroscopic surgery on her left-knee in Apollo Hospital here, according to Imran Mirza, father of Sania.

Imran informed that Sania had torn her meniscus during the US Open Grand Slam tournament in Flushing Meadows last month.

"The surgery was performed by the Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr. K.J. Reddy. Her cricketer husband, Shoaib Malik was present at the hospital when the operation was performed," Imran said.

It may be recalled here that Sania had earlier undergone an arthroscopy after damaging her ACL on the right knee in 2006 and a right wrist surgery to repair a torn lunate capsule in 2007.

Sania Mirza had broken into the top-10 of the world in women's doubles for the first time in her career when she was struck down with the knee injury during the year's last Grand Slam.

Friday, 7 October 2011

For about two weeks, the ongoing Champions League Twenty20 failed to attract spectators to the stadiums for most of the matches and it is safe to hazard a guess there weren’t too many takers for the tournament at homes either. This indifference was to be expected considering India’s woeful performance in England and the virtual non-stop cricket that has been played since the World Cup.

The qualifying and group stage matches not involving any of the Indian Premier League (IPL) teams were hardly watched either at the stadiums or on television sets at homes; the ones involving IPL teams fared only a tad better (not taking into account when Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore played at home). Luckily for the organisers, the semi-finalists weren’t determined until the last two days of the group stage and this did help in attracting more eyeballs – both at the stadium and at homes.

That two of the last four matches in the group stage saw some pulsating performances have gone a long way in ensuring this edition of the CL T20 won’t be a damp squib. On Tuesday, David Warner’s scintillating 69-ball 136 not out helped New South Wales Blues knock defending champions CSK out of the tournament. Warner’s knock was one of the best T20 knocks ever and what made it more special was that it came on a slow track at MA Chidambaram Stadium, which until then had proven to be the scourge of batsmen.

If that wasn’t enough to infuse some much-needed life into the tournament, the last group stage match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and South Australia Redbacks certainly did that and much more. The must-win match for both teams saw a terrific unbeaten century, three cracking knocks in the seventies, a five-wicket haul and an outstanding run chase that was capped by a last-ball six as RCB won the match to book their berth in the semi-finals in front of more than 10,000 spectators at Bangalore’s Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Royal Challengers Bangalore's players celebrate a memorable win that ensured their passage into the CL T20 semi-finals.

Daniel Harris hit 17 boundaries and two sixes in his 61-ball 108* in one of the best-ever batting displays one can hope to see in a T20 match and his 114-run partnership with Callum Ferguson (70 in 43 balls) was the perfect example of scoring runs in the middle overs without taking too many risks and then ending the innings with aplomb. The Redbacks eventually ended with a score of 214 for 2 even as S Aravind of RCB had figures of 4-0-69-0 – the second worst in T20 history.

The Redbacks would have expected an easy victory after posting such an imposing total, but RCB’s opening pair of Chris Gayle and Tillakaratne Dilshan added 65 runs in 37 balls for the first wicket to set the tone for the hosts’ run chase. What followed next was undoubtedly one of the greatest knocks in T20 history as Virat Kohli hit four boundaries and 6 sixes as he smashed 70 off just 36 deliveries to set RCB on their way to a win. His knock was all the more special as it came in a high-pressure situation and as he himself admitted later it was the most exciting T20 match of his career so far. Kohli was well-supported by Dilshan (74 in 47 deliveries) and at one stage it seemed RCB would easily chase down the tough target, but Shaun Tait (5-32) took three wickets in the 19th over of the hosts’ innings to give the match another twist. RCB needed 15 runs to win off the last over of the match by Dan Christian; and did well to take nine runs in the first five deliveries. The Redbacks would have still harboured hopes of sneaking through, but the hitherto unknown Arun Karthik did a Javed Miandad as he hit a slower Dan Christian delivery for a six over midwicket to send the RCB dugout into raptures.

These two matches have ensured attention is now riveted on the last three matches of the tournament starting with the first semi-finals between RCB and Blues at Bangalore on October 7. The tournament really needs to see good and tight contests in these matches to ensure the next edition gets in more spectators for all matches.

Monday, 3 October 2011

The Indian wonder tablet was suppose to be launched on June 2011, to initial testing by shipping it to IIT students.

Then, it disappeared, along with Kapil Sibal, HRD Minister, possibly succumbing to Team Anna's protest.

Now, both of them have reappeared.

At a function in Delhi, Sibal said: "The computer will be launched next month…This is not just a dream, it is a reality," he added. Officials announced that the device will be launched on October 5, 2011. However, Sibal has not spoken about the device's specifications.

Sibal also mentioned how "corruption…in the recent past will be dealt with through initiative of IT…"… the device.

Sibal hasn't announced any program to institute the tablet for government work, Besides, And, the tablet won't actually be used for any of this - Indian government has issued a directive granting Rs. 50,000 to MPs to buy iPads and Samsung Tabs for parliamentary work, along with training to use the tablet interface.

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The Rs. 1750 price-tag (quoted in dollars by the government) has also been questioned. Even though the tablet is considered, by experts, to be a copy of the Chinese Hivepad tablet, such a low-price tablet has never been invented by the Chinese.

According to PCWorld: "The basic components like a processor, motherboard, memory, display, etc, however obsolete they might be, that go into a computer, would cost more than $35 even if you buy in millions of pieces, which the major manufacturers anyways do…"

Also read: Rent a Computer at only Rs 15 a Day! and How to Have a Smartphone-like Experience on your Basic Java Phone

Wednesday, 28 September 2011

The study measured obesity based on BMI ( body mass index) — body weight divided by the square of height. If obesity is measured as percentage body fat, close to 85 per cent of the population would qualify as obese, according to the study carried out by scientists from India and the US. The study involved 459 people — 217 men and 242 women — with an average age of 42 years.

Obesity scare
Besides BMI, researchers measured waist size, blood glucose, percentage body fat, total abdominal fat, fat tissue in abdomen or intra- abdominal adipose tissue. As high as 50.1 per cent of the people were obese based on their BMI. The study also found high abdominal obesity as indicated by various parameters such as waist size, Close to 69 per cent people were found to have larger than adequate waist size while close of 71 per cent had high fat in their abdomen.

“ Body fat is a true indicator of obesity but requires expensive apparatus to measure it. It is an accepted measure but BMI is used to measure obesity due to its simplicity,” said Anoop Misra of National Diabetes, Obesity and Cholesterol Diseases Foundation, lead author scientist of the study published in journal PLoS One.

Over 45 per cent people had risk factors or metabolic syndrome which predispose them to development of diabetes and heart disease.

Approximately nine per cent of people suffered from diabetes and about 29 per cent had high blood pressure. The study also found high abdominal obesity as indicated by various parameters such as waist size, abdominal fat and intra- abdominal adipose tissue.

“The data is glaring and worrying. High prevalence of generalised obesity and abdominal obesity in urban Asian Indians in north India need immediate public health intervention,” Misra pointed out.

The high percentage of people with abdominal obesity is also a matter of concern because such obesity is associated with risk of diseases, scientists said.

The prevalence of abdominal obesity in Delhi — 70 — is higher than in urban population of Chennai at 46.6 per cent.

Women were found to be more obese at waist at close to 75 per cent than man at around 62 per cent.

The increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity are linked to sedentary lifestyles and lack of physical inactivity.